What is Citizen Science?

Citizen Science

The term "public engagement" describes the different ways in which higher education and research can go beyond academic spaces and be shared with the rest of the society for mutual benefit. This is a two-way process not only including the dissemination of scientific knowledge but also the interaction between scientists and local communities to improve the quality of research and education.

Citizen Science has multiple definitions, as it is a very broad concept. One of the definitions is the one that suggests the White Paper on Citizen Science published in 2015:

Citizen Science refers to the general public engagement in scientific research activities when citizens actively contribute to science either with their intellectual effort or surrounding knowledge or with their tools and resources.

• Citizen Science: Theory and Practice: best practices in conceiving, developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining projects that facilitate public participation in scientific endeavors in any discipline.

Special Collection: Citizen Science in Higher Education

Special Collection: Policy Perspectives in Citizen Science

Special Collection: Ethical Issues in Citizen Science

• Vohland, K., Land-Zandstra, A., Ceccaroni, L., Lemmens, R., Perelló, J., Ponti, M., Samson, R., Wagenknecht, K. (Eds.) (2021): The Science of Citizen Science.
• Citizen Science: a brief introduction
• Citizen science and the involvement of knowledge actors in the co-creation of R&I agendas and contents